NCI Drug Dictionary

The NCI Drug Dictionary contains technical definitions and synonyms for drugs/agents used to treat patients with cancer or conditions related to cancer. Each drug entry includes links to check for clinical trials listed in NCI's List of Cancer Clinical Trials.

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The sodium salt form of warfarin, a coumarin and a vitamin K antagonist, with anticoagulant activity. Warfarin sodium inhibits both vitamin K and vitamin K epoxide reductases, thereby interfering with the cyclic interconversion of vitamin K epoxide to its reduced form, vitamin KH2. Vitamin KH2 is a cofactor for the carboxylation of glutamate residues on the N-terminal regions of vitamin K-dependent proteins. As a result, maturation of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors II, VII, IX, and X and anticoagulant proteins C and S is inhibited. Without these coagulation factors, thrombogenesis and blood clot formation are prevented. Check for active clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)

An inert, radiopharmaceutical of oxygen-15 (O-15) labeled water used as a tracer molecule with positron emission tomography (PET). Upon administration, water O-15 is freely diffusible and its distribution, as well as its clearance, are completely dependent on the rate of blood flow. Water O-15 can be imaged using PET to measure tissue or tumor blood flow/perfusion. This cyclotron product has a very short half life of about 2 minutes thereby allowing for multiple, serial measurements. Check for active clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)

A water-based vaginal lubricant with hydration activity. Upon application to the vagina, the water-based vaginal lubricant provides moisture and may relieve dryness and sexual discomfort. Check for active clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)

The juice extracted from the mature sprouts of wheatgrass, Triticum aestivum, which is a member of the Poaceae family, with potential anti-inflammatory, immunomodulating and chemopreventive activities. Wheatgrass juice contains many vitamins, including A, B vitamins, C and E, minerals, including selenium, iron, magnesium, calcium, manganese, copper and zinc, amino acids, chlorophyll and a number of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase and cytochrome oxidase. Although the exact mechanism(s) of action through which wheatgrass juice exerts its effect(s) has yet to be fully elucidated, the components in the juice may scavenge free radicals, reduce chemotherapy-induced myelotoxicity, neutralize toxins and carcinogens and modulate the levels of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)- 6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-12. Check for active clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)

A biologically active, cystine-rich, whey-based protein isolate. Whey protein isolate is broken down in the body into cystine and glutamylcystine, which travel safely in the blood stream, upon cell entry, deliver a sustained amount of free cysteine to the cells. The available cysteine allows cells to synthesize glutathione (GSH), a tripeptide containing amino acids glycine, glutamate and cysteine, thereby maintaining and increasing intracellular GSH concentrations. GSH plays a major role as an antioxidant, thereby protecting cells from oxidative damage due to harmful substances such as free radicals and reactive oxygen compounds. Check for active clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)

A heat-stable extract of white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) with potential chemopreventive and immunomodulating activities. Phytochemicals, such as polysaccharides and especially beta-D-glucans found in the white button mushroom extract, bind to and inhibit the activity of aromatase, an enzyme responsible for the conversion of androgens to estrogens and which is often upregulated in breast cancer cells. The consequent decrease in estrogen production may result in the suppression of estrogen-dependent cellular proliferation. In addition, this extract may promote dendritic cell (DC) maturation, increase interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) production, and may enhance natural killer (NK) cell activity, thus amplifying both innate and T cell-mediated immune responses against cancer cells. Check for active clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)

A vegetable, also known as Arracacha, with potential chemoprevenitve, anti-oxidant and protective activities. White carrot contains a variety of nutrients, including minerals and vitamins. Polyacetylenes, including falcarinol, falcarindiol and falcarindiol-3-acetate are mainly responsible for its potential anti-cancer activity. Check for active clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)

An alcoholic beverage made from fermented white grapes with potential orexigenic activity. Although not well understood, the mechanism for white wine's potential orexigenic activity may be due, in part, to its alcohol content and may involve alterations in neurotransmitter and hormone activities related to appetite regulation. Check for active clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)

An orally bioavailable, small molecule inhibitor of the Wnt signaling pathway, with potential antineoplastic activity. Upon oral administration, SM08502 inhibits the expression of genes involved in the Wnt signaling pathway through an as of yet not fully elucidated mechanism. This decreased expression of Wnt pathway-related genes prevents Wnt signaling and may inhibit proliferation of cancer cells in which the Wnt signaling pathway is overactivated. The Wnt signaling pathway is dysregulated in many cancer cell types and plays a crucial role in tumor cell proliferation. Check for active clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)

A synthetic peptide vaccine consisting of the amino acids 126 through 134 of the human Wilms' Tumor protein-1 (WT1) with potential antitumor activity. WT1, a tumor associated antigen, is overexpressed in most types of leukemia and in a variety of solid cancers. Vaccination with WT1 126-134 peptide vaccine may induce a WT1-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response against WT1 expressing cells, resulting in cell lysis and inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. Check for active clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)

An immunotherapeutic consisting of the recombinant fusion protein WT1-A10 combined with the adjuvant ASO1B with potential immunostimulating and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration, WT1-A10/AS01B immunotherapeutic GSK2130579AWT1 may induce a WT1-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response against WT1-expressing tumor cells, resulting in cell lysis and the inhibition of cellular proliferation. The tumor-associated antigen WT1 (Wilms tumor protein-1) is overexpressed in most types of leukemia and in a variety of solid cancers. WT1-A10 is a 292 amino acid recombinant fusion protein consisting of a 12-mer truncated tat sequence (leader sequence) and amino acids number 2-281 of the WT1 sequence; ASO1B consists of a combination of the adjuvants monophosporyl lipd A (MPL) and Q21. Check for active clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)

A population of allogeneic T-cells sensitized with Wilms tumor 1 (WT1) antigen with potential immunostimulatory and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration, WT1-sensitized T cells may bind to and lyse WT1-expressing tumor cells. WT1 antigen, a zinc finger DNA-binding protein acting as a transcriptional activator or repressor depending on the cellular or chromosomal context, is overexpressed in leukemic cells and in a vast number of nonhematological solid tumors. Check for active clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)